âI donât trust the high command, Sometimes Col. Sharma is so biased, it feels I am talking to deaf ears.â Vayu heard a womanâs voice.
âI have heard there is someone who can help us in these situations!â a second voice answered.
Major Vayu couldnât resist his curiosity and slowly moved in the direction of the hushed voices. But seemed the voices heard him coming and suddenly it was pin-drop silence.
Vayuâs curiosity got over him and he wanted to find out whom he heard and who was that someone, the second voice mentioned.
When he reached his quarters, he was restless and wanted to do something about this and thatâs when he called his mentor.
~~~
The room air was suffocating, I opened the glass door and sat on my balcony. As the shadows of the curtains danced on the walls, I found solace in the comforting embrace of a bottle, trying to drown the echoes of Sheetal's accusations echoing in my mind. It was an ungodly hour, a time when the world embraced the quiet, and I, in my chaotic world, sought solace in the amber liquid.
As the alcohol blurred the edges of my thoughts, the intrusive ringtone of my phone shattered the fragile peace that the intoxication had momentarily provided. It was two o'clock in the night â a time when sensible people were lost in the realm of dreams. For me, it was an unexpected intrusion into the hazy cocoon I had woven around myself.
I hesitated for a moment before picking up. The anticipation and dread mingled in my voice as I uttered, "I knew you would call me."
A moment of silence hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken words. Then, a familiar voice broke through the stillness, a voice that I hadn't expected. "I didnât know you were expecting a call from me, Kaushal, but I have some news for you!"
Neha's voice, unambiguous, cut through the haze of my delirium, instantly sobering me. "Oh, itâs you, Neha. Sorry, I thought it was Sheetal! What news do you have? Have you not slept yet?" I tried to mask the relief and curiosity that surged within me.
"Yes, I just got some news and thought of telling you. Are you fine, Kaushal?" Neha's concern reached me like a gentle anchor in the storm of my emotions.
"I'm... I'm okay, Neha. Just trying to make sense of everything," I admitted, my tone heavy with the weight of recent events.
Understanding Kaushal's plight, Neha continued, "I heard about your encounter with Sheetal. I can't imagine what you're going through. But right now, we have something important to focus on."
My mind, still grappling with the aftermath of Sheetal's accusations, nodded absentmindedly. "Tell me, Neha. What news do you have?"
Neha took a deep breath before relaying the information, "Major Vayu overheard a conversation in his cantonment. Two individuals were talking about not trusting the high command and mentioned someone who could help in such situations."
My interest peaked. "Who were these individuals, and who is this someone they mentioned?"
"That's what we need to find out," Neha replied. "Major Vayu is restless to do something about it. He called me, seeking my guidance. It seems like there's a possibility of another conspiracy."
Just the mention of a potential conspiracy reignited a spark in me. The chaos caused by Crimson Dagger was still fresh in my mind, and the idea of another internal threat troubled me. "I need to meet Major Vayu. Where is he?"
"He's in Jaisalmer. I'll arrange for a meeting," Neha assured me. "Kaushal, this could be significant. We need to get to the bottom of it."
"Wait Jaisalmer means, where Riya is posted?" My focus was deterred from the topic.
"Yes Kaushal, Major Vayu has been pushing hard on Riya based on my discussions with him and she is still struggling there," Neha smirked.
"Look who is acting cruel now? Get past Riya!" I laughed.
"Yes I have moved on from her, it's a story of the past now, I don't have any grudges against her now, but I wonder wherever she goes something fishy keeps happening!" Neha laughing.
"Okay, good but this conspiracy can be sorted only by getting part of it, what do you think?" I was thinking like my usual now.
"I think it's better to meet Vayu and then we can decide, what do you say?" Neha pushed her rendezvous idea.
The prospect of a new mission diverted my focus momentarily from the wreckage of my personal life.
"I'm in, Neha. Arrange the meeting but let's meet outside the cantonment, no one should know about our meet except the three of us."
We ended the call, and my mind had already shifted from the haunting memories of Sheetal's accusations to the potential danger lurking within the military. It was a familiar terrain, one where I felt a sense of purpose and control. I shook off the lingering effects of alcohol, a renewed determination settling in.
As I had a few days off, I found myself on a flight to Jaisalmer the next Sunday. The vast expanse of the Thar Desert unfolded beneath me as the aircraft descended.
Upon landing, I was greeted by Neha, who briefed me on the details of the intercepted conversation. Major Vayu, a seasoned officer with a reputation for stylishness, was waiting at a bookstore in the city.
The meeting with Major Vayu revealed a tangled web of suspicions and half-formed leads. The elusive "someone" remained a mystery. Major Vayu, fuelled by a sense of duty and an unsettling feeling of betrayal within the ranks, sought my guidance on how to proceed.
The bookstore buzzed with activity as Major Vayu and I delved into the heart of the matter.
Major Vayu's distress was palpable as he shared the details of the intercepted conversation. "Sir, I've been serving in the military for years, and I've never felt such unease. If there's a threat within, we need to root it out before it's too late."
I nodded in agreement, "Major Vayu, we need to gather more information. We can't act on speculation alone."
Amid our investigation, Neha interrupted. Her voice, usually composed, held a hint of urgency. "Kaushal, be careful. This goes deeper. There may be eyes watching, and not all of them have the best interests at heart."
"You are right Neha, and that's exactly why I asked you to keep this meeting confidential!"
"Yes Sir, don't worry about this place, this bookstore is very secure, no one comes here from our Cantonment, as they don't like their priced books. Only elite customers come here who have a taste of good quality books!" Major Vayu filled in.
"That's great Major, so what I feel is unless you become part of this group you will not know who are they referring to!"â~~~~~